The Horticultural Library
(Opened 1981 in a renovated Cooper shop)
The 80's
In 1981, the first gardening project at Maple Hill was the creation of an herb garden. At the same time that the herb garden was being constructed, a dozen individuals from the Colonial Garden Club of Hollis, New Hampshire, planted seeds, tended plants, and raised flowers for drying.
In 1982, a group of the members of the Colonial Garden Club continued to work on a 'Dried Flower' project, planting seeds, learning drying techniques, and assembling finished dried flower bouquets. While one group was learning about drying flowers, a group of new members was involved in the study of herbs. The purpose of their group was to select, purchase, plant, propagate, and harvest a variety of herbs, and later on, to make herbal products, such as: vinegars, potpourri, bouquets, jellies, teas, and wreaths.
By 1983, Maple Hill Gardeners exhibited herbal products and dried flower arrangements at the annual Fall Festival at Beaverbrook. According to the historical records, this was the first time that the Maple Hill Gardeners were called by their name. Prior to 1983, the gardeners were referenced as the Colonial Hill Gardeners. (As of 1999, the Colonial Garden Club and the Maple Hill Gardeners still exist in Hollis as two groups, with some individuals having membership in both groups.)
For several years, these enthusiastic gardening volunteers were guided by professionals, most notably Dick Bacon, horticulturist and writer. By the time Dick Bacon resigned in 1987, nine mini-gardens had been established at Beaverbrook. These included:
The Herb Oval (1981)Alice's Rockery (1985)
The Gazebo Garden (1981)
The Hedged Garden (1983)
The Reflecting Pool (1985)
Shady Walk (1986)
Ever Blooming Border (1985)
Demonstration Kitchen (1986)
The French Meadow (1986)
In addition to creating many of these gardens, Dick Bacon, along with Ellen Nichols, realized the need for a horticultural library, which opened in June, 1981. The Colonial Garden Club gave the library its first gift book "Guide to Public Gardens" and many gardening books, magazines, slides, etc., fill the shelves of the library to this day.
The Horticultural Library
(Opened 1981 in a renovated Cooper shop)
Programs on gardening were presented in the library by Dick Bacon and others until 1989, when the availability of volunteers dwindled, thus causing the use of the library to decline. In 1989 the Horticultural Library volunteers discussed the reopening of the library; a questionnaire was included in the Beaver Brook Log (newsletter) to assess the library needs of the community. In 1990 the library was reopened to the public one afternoon a week, manned by volunteers from December through March. Today, the library is still used for research by the Maple Hill Gardeners, and is open to the public on special occasions, including Fall Festival, which is held every September at Beaver Brook.
The Little Barn - Fall Festival
In the little barn, the Maple Hill Gardeners sell jellies, cookies, tree ornaments, home-made crafts, and dried flower bouquets and arrangements. Proceeds of these sales offset the cost of purchasing annuals and perennials that the gardeners plant each year at Maple Hill Gardens.
Inside The Little Barn - Fall Festival
The '90's
From the time Dick Bacon resigned in 1987 until 1990, volunteers continued maintaining the gardens under the supervision of Gela Gallant, who had been appointed by the trustees to supervise the Maple Hill gardens. By 1990, the Horticultural Committee, Maple Hill Gardeners, and Beaver Brook staff decided to reevaluate the gardens.
The Horticultural Committee, through the efforts of Ellen Nichols, obtained the services of Neil Jorgensen, noted landscape designer; he met with members of the Horticultural Committee, toured the gardens, and submitted a written report that included plans for easier maintenance of the gardens. During this same time, a new director of Beaver Brook, Joe Broyles, was hired. He met with the Horticultural Committee frequently to consider its goals for the Maple Hill Gardens. The volunteers continued their normal work in the gardens, i.e., cleaning up, planting, mulching, selecting annuals, transplanting perennials, setting plants out for drying, and in 1991 some of Neil Jorgensen's recommendations for the gardens were carried out by the volunteers.
Douglas Gagne, Landscape Architect, was hired in 1992 as a part-time horticulturist to give direction and guidance to the Maple Hill Gardeners. In October, 1992, Douglas Gagne offered specific recommendations for the various gardens. These included less labor and maintenance in the gardens which was achieved through the planting of numerous perennials, ground cover, and less annuals. Better labeling of plants, for educational purposes, was pursued. An enclosed compost bin was established by the dried flower garden in order to enrich the soils of Maple Hill. And a shade garden was designed and implemented, complete with a stone bench surrounded by hostas and ferns. Doug Gagne's recommendations, along with Neil Jorgensen's suggestions, were carried out as time and money permitted.
In 1992, the Maple Hill Gardens were renamed and numbered as follows:
In 1998 the Maple Hill Gardeners and the Horticulture Committee of Beaver Brook merged. The new group was renamed the Maple Hill Gardeners. Group responsibilities included maintaining the gardens and planning horticultural projects. Co-chairs Marilyn Key and Heather Pries were selected, along with Marcy O'Connell (hired by Beaver Brook), to address the following issues: garden design and maintenance, program planning, volunteer recruitment, and training and assisting with special events, as needed. Under the guidance of these three individuals, the volunteers renewed their energies and the gardens flourished once again.
To finish out the 1990's, Elizabeth (Liz) Brown, a Maple Hill Gardener, was hired by Beaver Brook in the spring of 1999. Her job was to tend the gardens at Maple Hill and guide the volunteers in their efforts to keep the gardens looking beautiful. With help from volunteer Marilyn Key, the Maple Hill Gardeners were able to maintain and improve the beauty of each garden. The efforts put in by the gardeners in 1998 and 1999 were appreciated by the many visitors who attended programs/events offered by Beaver Brook during those years.
From the beginning of the Maple Hill Gardens in 1981, to the newly formed Maple Hill Gardeners in 1998, one element has remained constant - the volunteers. They have faithfully tended the gardens for nearly two decades! And to those volunteers and professionals (who were not mentioned by name in this historical overview), you are to be applauded for your tireless efforts and contributions in making the Maple Hill Gardens what they are today. Thanks to all of you for making our corner of the world a little more beautiful...
Quote from Thomas Jefferson, 1811